Pittsburgh Pirates: Who they Have Scouted

According to Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times, the Pirates were one of five teams scouting Matt Moore’s start on Saturday night. The other four teams scouting Matt Moore were the Dodgers, Nationals, Rangers, and Red Sox.

Matt Moore put on a good show for those scouts that were in attendance on Saturday night. In his start on Saturday Moore allowed just two runs on five hits and one walk in a season high 7 1/3 innings pitched. This outing lowered Matt Moore’s ERA for the season to 4.33.

Overall on the season Matt Moore has a 4.33 ERA, 4.60 FIP, and a 4.72 xFIP in 116 1/3 innings pitched. In those 116 1/3 innings pitched Moore is averaging 7.58 K/9, 2.63 BB/9, and 1.47 HR/9. While Moore’s home run rate is a career worst, his walk rate is the best of his career and his strikeout rate is the third best of his career.

Even though Moore’s overall numbers this season are nothing special, he has been on a good run of late. Dating back to June 12th, which covers seven starts, Matt Moore has a 2.51 ERA and a 4.01 FIP in 46 2/3 innings pitched. Moore has also watched his home run rate drop during this stretch from the 1.81 HR/9 it was through his first 12 starts, to just 0.96 HR/9 his last seven starts.

This is Moore’s first season back after missing last year with Tommy-John surgery.  Before then he looked like a future ace for the Rays.  Moore is still a very solid pitcher, who still has a strong upside.  He may not reach the level of a number one, but he still just 27 years of age and could provide a very good middle of the rotation arm right now.

Next: A Former Ace, having a down year